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EHEDG Guideline 12 on Flow Thermal Treatment of Liquid Particulate Foods | New available guideline
Now available in our catalogue
EHEDG has released the updated Guideline 12, 'The Continuous or Semi-Continuous Flow Thermal Treatment of Liquid Particulate Foods'. First published in 1994, the document now addresses both pasteurisation and sterilisation, offering dedicated guidance for particulate foods. The revision helps industry professionals tackle the complex hygienic design and validation challenges of these processes.
Particulate foods pose unique challenges compared to homogeneous liquids. Differences in particle size, shape, and distribution make it difficult to achieve uniform heat penetration, while standard equipment often falls short when adapted for such products. This increases the risk of fouling, contamination, and operational inefficiencies.
The revised Guideline 12 provides practical, modernised recommendations to address these issues. It complements existing EHEDG heat treatment documents, while offering focused guidance for food producers dealing with particulate products such as soups, sauces, or ready meals.
The document also emphasises the importance of hygienic design in minimising fouling risks across system components like heat exchangers, tanks, and valves. Solutions include optimised flow conditions, careful surface geometry, and enhanced cleaning-in-place strategies.
Ana Soares (JDE Peet, Member of the EHEDG Working Group ‘Heat Treatment’):
“With particulates, the situation is much more complex—different particle sizes, shapes and behaviours make it extremely difficult to validate heat treatment.”
Bengt Eliasson (Tetra Pak, Chair of the EHEDG Working Group ‘Heat Treatment’):
“To prevent fouling and contamination, process components must allow particles to move freely and avoid stagnant areas—otherwise safety and reliability are at risk.”
A special thanks to the other contributors: Stefan Åkesson (Tetra Pak), Hubert Assing (GEA), Martin Barnickel (Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft), Douglas Bremner (The Coca-Cola Company), Ole Poulsen (SPX), Harald Schuten (FrieslandCampina), Asaithambi Subramani (Lactalis), Marieke Teeuw (JBT) and Jörg Zacharias (Krones)
